Paramount+’s Tulsa King has returned for its fourth season, and it’s already making waves with two major character deaths that have fans reeling. In a recent interview, series star and co-creator Sylvester Stallone pulled back the curtain on why the show made such a dramatic move, revealing a strategy that echoes the unpredictability of Game of Thrones.
Stallone, who plays Dwight “The General” Manfredi, sat down with Collider’s Steve Weintraub to discuss the new episodes, the recently announced Season 5 renewal, and the creative decisions that are shaping Dwight’s journey. The deaths—which include the character Thresher, played by Neal McDonough—are not just shock value; they’re part of a larger plan to keep the story fresh and the stakes higher than ever.
The “Game of Thrones Syndrome”
When asked about the decision to kill off two main characters in the first two episodes, Stallone compared it to the infamous Game of Thrones approach of never letting anyone feel safe. “It’s like with Adrian,” he said, referencing his iconic Rocky character. “The last thing I wanted to do was kill off my heart with Adrian, but I realized that would drive the whole story and give it such great gravitas.”
Stallone explained that as a writer, he felt he had taken the relationships with these characters as far as they could go. “With Neal, I’d gone as far as I could with him. I didn’t realize what else could Dwight do with him?” he admitted. By removing these figures, the show opens the door for new antagonists and fresh conflicts, which is exactly what the series needs to evolve.
New Enemies, New Challenges
The deaths aren’t just about clearing the board; they’re about introducing new threats that will test Dwight in ways he hasn’t been tested before. Stallone hinted that a new governor—who has her own influences—will now complicate Dwight’s life. “It’s gonna screw up everything, which is exactly the kind of conflict I needed,” he said. “Just when you think you have it together, that’s when you never go, ‘Wow, I made it.’ No, you made it for today.”
This philosophy is central to Stallone’s vision for the show’s future. He wants to keep audiences on edge, never allowing Dwight to become complacent. The new season promises to be a rollercoaster of power plays, betrayals, and unexpected alliances.
Stallone’s Broader Plans
Beyond Tulsa King, Stallone also touched on his upcoming projects, including the spin-off Frisco King, which will feature Samuel L. Jackson, and the biopic I Play Rocky, which he praised as “extraordinary” and “life-affirmative.” He reflected on seeing his own story told on screen, noting that he never thought of his journey as inspirational while he was living it. “I was just trying to get some footage, just trying to survive,” he said.
For fans of Tulsa King, the fourth season is already shaping up to be a turning point. With Stallone at the helm, the show continues to blend gritty crime drama with unexpected emotional depth. As he put it, “You can’t write that into a screenplay—like, ‘Okay, here, they’re gonna yell.’” But with these bold choices, audiences are sure to be yelling for more.
